Organizers were gearing up for another day and night of marches and protests Wednesday after hundreds demonstrated in cities across the country and several were arrested on Election Day.
More than 520 events were organized nationwide by Protect the Results on Wednesday and beyond if President Donald Trump either refuses to accept election results or prematurely declares victory. Trump falsely claimed he had won the presidential election early Wednesday and threatened to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the counting of legally cast absentee ballots.
Protect the Results is a coalition of more than 165 grassroots organizations, advocacy groups and labor unions led by activist groups Indivisible and Stand Up America.
On Election Night, hundreds marched through the streets and several were arrested in cities including Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; Portland; Seattle; and Raleigh.
ShutDownDC to ‘disrupt business as usual’ if Trump wins election
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department reported four arrests overnight. The charges included crossing police lines, assault, inciting violence and resisting arrest. The four suspects ranged in age from 23 to 32.
“We knew this would happen,” tweeted the advocacy group ShutDownDC in a tweet calling for a rally Wednesday with the hashtags #DeliverDemocracy and #CountEveryVote. On Thursday, they plan to host a caravan of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Organizers said they plan more aggressive actions depending on the outcome of the election, such as if Trump were to win reelection or to question the election outcome. Organizers have plans to “disrupt business as usual for some of the institutions that are most complicit in Trump’s attack on democracy.”
Police, protesters clash in Raleigh
More than 100 people marched and changed Black Lives Matter slogans in North Carolina’s capital city late Tuesday. “Whoever wins (the election) we lose,” some chanted, while others burned small American flags. Police said six arrests were made after rocks and other items were thrown at officers. The charges include failure to disperse, assault on a law enforcement officer, resist, delay, and obstruct and disorderly conduct. Fences and barricades were placed around the State Capitol and other buildings.
Elsewhere:
- In Seattle, police said they arrested eight people on charges including pedestrian interference, obstruction, assault on an officer and reckless driving.
- In Los Angeles, several arrests were reported as police in riot gear faced off against dozens of protesters.
- In Minneapolis, police arrested several demonstrators from among about 30 who had gathered in the city’s uptown, WCCO-TV reported.
Contributing: Chris Quintana, Jordan Culver and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
Follow N’dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg
